McKiernan to start inaugural Conamara 10k race

Ireland’s Catherina McKiernan will start the inaugural Conamara 10k race and host a chi running workship in Carna next weekend.

Irish running legend Catherina McKiernan will be the race starter at the inaugural Conamara 10k on October 8.

The race, which is being organised by Connemara triathlon club TríSpórt, will be held in Carna, Co Galway, and will be part of the weekend-long Conamara 10k running festival. The centrepiece of the festival, the 10k race, will see participants run a course out to Muighnis island before turning back into Carna village.

The race has seen entries so far from the US and from Britain, resulting in hotel sponsor, Carna Bay Hotel, being sold out.

“We are delighted with the reaction to this inaugural race,” said race director Rónán Mac Con Iomaire. “I think that such a beautiful and unusual running route is a big attraction, along with the fact that participants will get to meet one of Ireland’s all-time greatest runners, Catherina McKiernan.”

The Conamara 10k, which is Athletics Ireland-approved and has been accurately measured using a Jones Counter, will see cash prizes for the senior runners, and prizes also for various veteran categories. The race is open to runners, walkers and joggers. 10k Conamara can be entered at runireland.com

The 10k race is only one part of the weekend running festival, sponsored by Údarás na Gaeltachta. Saturday will see a series of running events for children of all ages, from three to 18, as well as a health and fitness fair at the Carna Bay Hotel. The Conamara 10k will be followed by some traditional Connemara entertainment, with music, sean-nós dancing and sean-nós singing.

On Sunday Catherina McKiernan host a chi running workshop in Carna. Also on the Sunday will be a free heritage walk, leaving Carna Bay Hotel at 10am. Further information is available at trisport.ie